USA > Pennsylvania > Northampton County > History of Northampton County [Pennsylvania] and the grand valley of the Lehigh, Volume I > Part 53
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aries sent to this country by the Reformed Church of Holland. Thomas Pomp was born in Skippack township, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, February 4, 1773. His early childhood was passed amid the quiet scenes and innocent sports of country life. His father receiving a call from the German Reformed church in Baltimore, Maryland, removed to that place with his family in 1783. The youth's later childhood was passed in the everbusy and evershifting scenes of city life. He entered the holy ministry in 1793, and the same year became pastor of several German Reformed congregations in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. He remained in this, his first field of labor, only about three years, when he resigned his duties in the month of July, 1796, and accepted a call to Easton. The history of the life of the Rev. Thomas N. Pomp for the next half of a century is the history of the Third Street Reformed Church. He continued his pastorate for a period of fifty-six years, until his death April 22, 1852.
Up to 1830 the church was owned and occupied by the Reformed and Lutheran congregations, but the following year the latter sold their interest to the former for sixteen hundred dollars. The church was reconstructed in 1832. The German language was used exclusively until 1831, when the church employed an English assistant, and the English language became incorporated in the church service. The Rev. Dr. Bernard W. Wolff was elected to preach in the English language, and delivered his introductory service April 7, 1833. Father Pomp and Dr. Wolff labored in peace and harmony for twelve years, when the latter accepted a call from the Third Reformed Church of Baltimore, Maryland, and the vacancy was supplied in April, 1845, by the election of the Rev. Dr. J. V. A. Bomberger. The semi- centennial anniversary of Father Pomp's pastorate was celebrated July 19, 1846. At the time of the retirement of Father Pomp from active duties, the services in the two languages were united, Dr. Bomberger officiating in both the German and English languages. He resigned in August, 1854, and was succeeded the following month by the Rev. Dr. John Beck. He was a man tenacious of his opinions, was not, however, of an aggressive character, and is remembered for his scholarly sermons, and his pleasant, affable manners. He remained in charge until his death, April 19, 1877. Since the fall of 1871, the public services of worship have been conducted exclusively in the Eng- lish language.
After the death of Dr. Beck, the Rev. Dr. T. C. Porter, of Lafayette College, was chosen to fill the vacant pulpit, and he was installed August 29, 1878. After seven years of faithful toil and successful work, he laid aside the burdens of the pastorate and resumed his college work. The Rev. Henry Martin Kieffer became Dr. Porter's successor, and was installed October 30, 1884. The church name was changed in 1896 from the Third Street Reformed Church to the First Reformed Church. Dissensions arose amongst the mem- bers of the church in 1903, some desiring the resignation of the pastor. The case came before the higher ecclesiastical courts, and though his retention was ably defended by his friends, the Classis of East Pennsylvania decided in favor of those desiring his resignation. The pulpit was filled September 13, 1903, by Rev. Mr. Dietrich as a supply. The friends of Dr. Kieffer applied for a rehearing, which was denied by the Easton Synod of the
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Reformed church, who also refused to grant the appeal of Rev. Henry M. Kieffer for his reinstatement as pastor of the church. Resort was then made to the courts, which sustained the decision of the higher ecclesiastical courts.
The next pastor, the Rev. Paul Seebert Leinbach, was duly installed in 1904 as pastor. The church was rededicated in November, 1906. The present pastor is Rev. Edward E. Evenmeyer.
The first record of St. Mark's Reformed Church was when it was re- solved by the German Reformed Church, now the First Reformed Church, January 1, 1868, to erect a mission church in the West Ward of Easton. No progress was made on this resolution for three years, when at a meeting held it was suggested that a church, not a mission, be erected. The church was organized July 27, 1872, the cornerstone of the new church building was laid September 17, 1872, and the congregation was incorporated May 6, 1873. The new church was of brick, forty-six by seventy-two feet, with a main audience room and a basement for Sunday school and weekly lectures. The building cost $16,000, and was conveyed to the new congregation by the Third Street Reformed Church subject to a mortgage of $3,500. For nine months the Rev. Dr. T. C. Porter supplied the pulpit. The first regular pastor was Rev. George H. Johnston, who commenced his labors April II, 1873, and continued until December 1, 1875. From this time until August 1, 1876, the congregation was without a pastor, when the second pastor, Rev. T. O. Stem, was elected, and during his pastorate, which continued until 1889, the church was prosperous, harmonious and increased in membership. The church was repaired and rededicated September 7, 1884. The next pastor was Rev. Henry H. Sangree, who resigned November 1, 1906, and was succeeded by Rev. F. C. Nau the following year. The latter was in charge of the congre- gation until 1910, when he was succeeded by Rev. Gustave R. Poetter, who resigned the charge September 1, 1916. The church is located on Tenth street, corner of Lehigh avenue. The present pastor is Rev. Allen Meek.
Grace Reformed Church was organized September 9, 1875, when per- sons belonging to the Reformed Church met at the house of John Gradwohl, in the Third Ward of Easton. Temporary officers were elected, and arrange- ments were made to erect a chapel on the corner of New and Porter streets. A neat frame building thirty by forty-five feet was erected, the congregation numbering about fifty members. The Rev. Dr. D. Y. Heisler received, March 20, 1876, a unanimous call to become pastor of the church, and entered on his pastoral duties the following June I. After ten years' charge of the church, he resigned, and was succeeded by Rev. T. C. Porter, who served until September 1I, 1892. The next pastor was Rev. O. P. Steckle, and he was succeeded by Rev. A. O. Bartholomew, who was installed as pastor November 22, 1898, and preached his farewell sermon, October 18, 1903. The fifth to assume the duties of pastor was Rev. W. I. Miller, who preached his last sermon February 19, 1905, and was succeeded by Rev. H. H. Rupp, who resigned April 18, 1909, Rev. Oswil E. H. Rauch became pastor of the church December 15, 1909.
St. Peter's Reformed Church, at the corner of Centre street and Milton avenue, South Side, was organized by the election of trustees in May, 1862,
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and did not become a selfsupporting charge until the spring of 1884. The membership at that time was one hundred members, and the congregation was in charge of Rev. G. W. Roth. Two years later Rev. Milton H. Mill became pastor, and the society became a corporate body. The cornerstone of the present church was laid July 28, 1889. The present pastor is Rev. William H. Mader.
The exact date when the Lutheran settlers in and about Easton first gathered together for worship of God according to the faith of the Augs- burg Confession, is veiled in mystery. John Casper Stoever, Jr., emigrated to America with his father in 1728. He traveled extensively as a missionary, serving congregations at Philadelphia, Lancaster, York, and Lebanon, and also visited Easton at an early date. It is generally supposed that it was due to the indefatigable labors of Stoever that the settlers at the Forks of the Delaware were gathered together in 1730 into two small congregations. One was known as the Congregation of the Augsburg Confession, and was located at what is now Saucon; meetings were held at Philip Schlaugh's home near the Lehigh river. The other congregation was known as the Congregation of the Delaware and assembled in a log building on the Philadelphia road, the present site of the South Easton Water Company at the foot of Morgan Hill in Cedarville. Muhlenberg records a visit to this congregation in 1747, and apologizes for so doing by saying that he was urgently requested by friends to make the visit. The Rev. Rudolph Henry Schrenk, one of Muh- lenberg's emissaries, was preaching at this olden time church in 1752. Soon afterwards the smouldering embers of discontent burst forth in flame of disrupture. The Jersey faction seceded and formed a new congregation ; the Pennsylvania faction thrived as a congregation for a while, and ceased to exist about 1815.
The official history of the Lutheran church at the Forks begins with the pastorate of Rev. John Justus Birkenstock, who served both congregations from 1740 to 1748. The following are the names of the successive pastors of the Lutheran Church: Rev. Henry Melchoir Muhlenberg and the Rev. Mr. Kartz, 1749; Rev. Rudolph Schrenk from 1749 to 1754. The next three years there was a vacancy and Rev. Bernard Michael Haisell at intermediate periods supplied the pulpit until 1769, when Rev. Christian Streit became pastor and organized a congregation at Easton. It was during his pastorship that the Union Church was built in Easton, the cornerstone being laid June 8, 1775, and the church consecrated November 17, 1776. The Rev. Frederick Ernst commenced his ministry in June, 1780, and remained until June, 1782, preaching also at St. James' Evangelical Lutheran Church in Still Valley, Greenwich township, New Jersey. The pastor from 1782 to 1798 was the Rev. Solomon Friederici, and it was during his ministry that a parsonage was built. His successor was Rev. Henry Augustus Schmidt, who remained until 1801, when Rev. Christian Frederick Louis Endress was elected pastor, and commenced his duties November 25, 1801, with one year's exception, when he removed to the State of New York, he continued until 1815, when he was chosen pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church at Lancaster, Penn- sylvania.
The next pastor chosen was the Rev. John P. Hecht, who took charge
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of the congregation December 10, 1815. A division of the church property, which was owned in common by the Reformed and Lutheran congregations, was agitated in 1830, and the latter finally sold their interest to the former. The Lutheran congregation built a church on Ferry street below Third street, at a cost of $18,000, and it was consecrated January 1, 1832, by the name of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church. On the retirement of Rev. John P. Hecht from the pastorate in 1845, the Rev. John W. Richards was placed in charge of the church; he preached his farewell sermon in 1851, and was succeeded by the Rev. C. F. Schaeffer. He continued until 1856, when he resigned his charge to accept a professorship in the Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
The successor of the Rev. Mr. Schaeffer was the Rev. Benjamin Sadtler, who was succeeded in 1862 by the Rev. B. M. Schmucker. The latter re- mained in charge of the congregation until 1867, and the following year Rev. Edmund Belfour commenced his ministry. During his pastorate the important step was taken of selling a part of the old graveyard adjoining the church on the west for $20,408.50, to the school board. The Rev. J. R. Groff commenced his duties as pastor in 1874. Under his ministry the mis- sionary zeal of the church was fostered, and Sabbath schools were established in various directions. The next pastor, the Rev. D. H. Geirsinger, was called from New York City to take charge of the flock, and entered upon his duties February 3, 1882.
The sixty-seventh anniversary of the consecration of St. John's Evangeli- cal Lutheran Church was celebrated September 24, 1899. The Rev. Paul G. Klinger was pastor of the congregation at that time, he having succeeded the Rev. I. O. Baker, who was elected to the office October 17, 1890. The Rev. John C. Seegers preached his first sermon March 10, 1901, and the Rev. Franklin K. Frietz was installed as pastor May 12, 1912. The one hundred and seventy-fifth anniversary of the establishment of the Lutheran religion in Northampton county was celebrated December 7-10, 1915.
The English congregation of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church may fairly claim to be the mother of the Lutheran churches in Easton and its vicinity. The most important established were St. Luke's Lutheran Church, the organization of Christ Church, Zion German Lutheran Church, St. Peter's Lutheran Church on College Hill, St. Paul's Lutheran Church at South Easton, the First Colored Church on Ferry street, Easton; St. John's German Lutheran Church, and Grace Lutheran Church at Phillips- burg, New Jersey.
It was toward the close of Rev. Mr. Hecht's ministry of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church that steps were taken to organize a new church, the services to be conducted in English. The organization of this new body was effected June 30, 1843, under the name of the Lutheran Congrega- tion of Easton. A unanimous call was extended to the Rev. George Diehl to become pastor, and on September 1, 1843, he commenced his duties, and was installed December 23, of that year. The church was connected with the General Synod of the Lutheran Church in the United States. The con- gregation worshipped in the old Methodist Episcopal Church, and action was taken to secure incorporation, which was granted, the name being
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changed to "The English Evangelical Lutheran Congregation." The site for a building was purchased in that year at the corner of Ferry and Hamil- ton (now Fourth) streets, the church dedicated December 22, 1844, and the name was again changed to Christ Church. The pastorate of the Rev. Dr. Diehl continued until July 1, 1851. On September I of that year Rev. Charles Adam Smith became pastor, remained so until July 1, 1854, and was succeeded by Rev. Emanuel Greenwald, who began his ministry October I, 1854, and closed it April 21, 1867. The Rev. William P. Ruthrauff was then settled over the parish and so continued until April 1, 1870. Christ Church separated from the East Pennsylvania Synod in 1870, and united with the Ministerium of Pennsylvania and Adjacent States. Rev. William Ashmead Schaeffer was chosen as Rev. Ruthrauff's successor, and began his church work September 1, 1870, but in the fall of 1876 was compelled by serious illness to withdraw from active duties, and Rev. Theophilus Helig was elected pastor pro tem. Rev. Mr. Schaeffer resigning April 1, 1877, the Rev. J. M. Anspach was elected pastor. The fiftieth anniversary of the foundation of the church was celebrated June 10, 1893. Rev. A. Douglass Spaeth was installed as pastor November 21, 1897. His successor, Rev. Elmer E. Snyder, preached his first sermon September 1, 1901. Rev. Paul J. Neff was installed as pastor in 1916. This church had for a number of years under its control the Colored Lutheran Church, and was associated with St. John's Evangelical Church in the management and conduction of St. Luke's Mission on Twelfth Street.
The first preliminary of the organization of the St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church was held April 17, 1868, in the Baptist house of worship on Ferry near Second street. The difficulties attending the settlement of the synodical relations of Christ Church had estranged many of its mem- bers, and this first meeting was called for consultation. So many were anxious to organize a new congregation, it was resolved to rent a building. Necessary steps were taken, and St. Paul's Religious Society was formed. The number of members withdrawing from Christ Church was fifty-four. The Baptist congregation granted the use of their church on alternate Sabbaths. Shortly after, however, quite a large number of members were received by certificate from the Baptist church. Rev. Theophilus Stork, of Philadelphia, preached the first sermon May 24, 1868. Supplies were obtained until August 13th of that year, when Rev. Joseph H. Barclay was unanimously elected pastor and entered upon his duties November 1, 1868. After the installation of the new pastor, it was unanimously resolved: First. we need a church; second, we will build a church. A building committee was appointed, a site purchased on North Fourth street, and the church was erected and dedicated in January, 1870. Under Dr. Barclay's adminis- tration a mission on College Hill was established, and the self-sustaining congregation was chartered as St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church of Easton. In the summer of 1871 Dr. Barclay visited the Holy Land, and on his return presented the church with a beautiful baptismal fount inlaid with woods brought from the Mount of Olives. The next pastor of St. Paul's was the Rev. Harvey W. McKnight, who took charge December I, 1873. Upon his resignation, the Rev. Rufus Hufford was called to the
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pastorate of the church and entered upon his work December 1, 1880. He was succeeded in 1894 by the Rev. A. H. Fischer, who, after a score of years in charge of the congregation, was succeeded by the present pastor, Rev. D. Burt Smith.
The Rev. Philip Pfatteicher was called as assistant pastor of the German Evangelical Lutheran Church in 1860. The matter of forming a new con- gregation exclusively of the German element had been more or less dis- cussed, and at length took shape in a resolution passed February 3, 1868, to sell a portion of the adjacent graveyard of the church and apply the funds thus obtained to the building or purchase of a new church. The act of separation, however, was not completed until December 19, 1871, when two hundred and seventy-eight members of the parent church were dismissed, and the amount received from the sale of a portion of the graveyard, amounting to $20,408.50, was to be applied for the purchase of a church building. The Dutch Reformed Church was organized July 27, 1851, and proceeded to purchase land and erect a church on North Fifth street, which was completed at a cost of $16,000. The Rev. J. H. Mason Knox, afterward president of Lafayette College, was called to the pastorate. The difficulties of maintaining organization were so great that the congregation concluded to sell the property of the newly formed German congregation, and it was purchased for $10,000, and named the Zion Lutheran Church. The first services were held in the church January 1, 1871, and the first pastor was the Rev. Philip Pfatteicher. The services of consecration took place De- cember 8, 1872. In the forenoon, Rev. C. W. Schaeffer, of Germantown, Pennsylvania, conducted the services in German, and in the afternoon the Rev. Mr. Kendrig of Reading, Pennsylvania, conducted them in English. The church was remodeled, the outside presenting a very imposing appear- ance.
The Rev. Philip Pfatteicher was born at Wassinger, Baden, Germany, September 18, 1836. He studied at a mission school in Switzerland, and in 1858 came to America. He attended the Theological Seminary at Gettys- burg, Pennsylvania, was ordained in 1860, and came to Easton, where he was assistant pastor at the German Evangelical Reformed Church until 1865. He then took pastoral charge of two congregations in Williams township. On the division of the German Lutheran Church he became pastor of the Zion Lutheran Church. The thirty-fifth anniversary of his pastorship was celebrated April 16, 1905. He died on his birthday, Septem- ber 18, 1908. After his death, the Rev. Walter C. G. Vert was unanimously chosen pastor, December 7, 1908, and installed February 7, 1909. The brick chapel adjoining the church was built in 1895.
St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church was originally designated the Sixth Lutheran Church, but it was afterwards ascertained that the colored church was called the First Colored Lutheran Church, and the title of the church was changed to the Fifth Lutheran Church. The first promi- nent event which directly begins the history of this church was the erection in 1870 of St. Paul's Mission Chapel on Porter street, near High street. This was a frame building 24 by 40 feet, finished and dedicated to divine service in the fall of 1870. A Sunday school was established, and preaching services NORTH .- 1-27.
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were held as often as a supply could be furnished. The population of College Hill in the early seventies grew rapidly, and a movement was started to organize a congregation on the hill. Action was at once taken, and after due deliberation Rev. W. H. Dunbar was called as pastor. He deliv- ered his first sermon August 30, 1874, and it soon became evident that the success of the enterprise demanded a new church. This work was entered into with great earnestness and energy. A lot at the corner of Porter and High streets was presented to the congregation by John Eyerman, and a new church was completed and dedicated January 16, 1876. The pastorate of Rev. Mr. Dunbar closed in May, 1880, in the summer of that year Rev. H. B. Wile became pastor, and under his pastorate, which continued until March 8, 1886, the church debt amounting to $7,000 was liquidated.
The church is built of brick, in the Gothic style of architecture, and was the first church in Easton to have elevated pews, the other churches being on a level; this gave the audience an uninterrupted view of every ceremony performed at the altar and pulpit. The next pastor was Rev. J. B. Keller, who served until 1888, when he was succeeded by Rev. C. R. Trowbridge, who in 1892 gave place to Rev. J. G. Miller, when in 1898 the Rev. C. R. Trowbridge again had charge of the church. A new church was dedicated May 21, 1905. The Rev. Charles R. Allenbach preached his farewell sermon February 2, 1913. The present pastor, Rev. John T. Jenkins, was installed in 1916.
A communication was sent October 12, 1874, to the vestries of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church and Zion Evangelical Church in refer- ence to establishing a mission in the western part of the borough. Other meetings were held during the winter, and the first public meeting for services was held in a building on Twelfth street near Ferry, on Sunday, July 4, 1875. The Sunday school rapidly increased in membership, and a lot situated at the corner of Eleventh and Ferry streets was purchased, on which was erected a beautiful building, 32 by 54 feet. In May, 1885, the Rev. A. W. Walter was earnestly requested to supply the church, which was consented to by the vestry of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, and services were held every Sunday evening beginning with July of that year. It was then resolved, January 12, 1886, to form a church organiza- tion, which was effected, and became known as St. Luke's Evangelical Lutheran Church. The Rev. A. W. Walter was elected the first pastor, and was installed February 5, 1886. His successor was Rev. George G. Kunkels, who in 1891 was followed by Rev. Ernest E. M. Grahn, who tendered his resignation June 26, 1904. The next pastor was Rev. H. F. J. Sencher, who accepted a call in 1904, and preached his farewell sermon May 12, 1912. The cornerstone of the present church was laid August 1, 1915, during the pastorage of the Rev. A. M. Stump. The present pastor is Rev. E. J. Heilman.
The congregations of the old and new Reformed and Lutheran churches in Williams township united with a congregation in South Easton, and met as early as 1877 in Hay's Chapel. The old Williams congregation later withdrew, and the Reformed and Lutheran congregations held services on alternate Sundays. The present church was erected, and the congregation
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became known as St. Paul's Lutheran Church. Meetings were first held in 1886 in the basement, and the church was dedicated June 3d of that year. The twentieth anniversary was celebrated June 6, 1897, and there were at that time two hundred and fifty communicants, the church properties being valued at $14,000. A cornerstone for an addition to the church was dedi- cated April 21, 1911. At the thirty-ninth anniversary of his pastorate, June 4, 1916, the Rev. J. Q. Upp resigned his charge. He was the first minister installed by the congregation, and it was his only charge. He was a graduate of Muhlenberg College at Allentown and Mount Airy Theo- logical Seminary. The present pastor is Rev. G. Harold Kincaid.
The gospel in accordance with the Presbyterian creed was first preached in the region about Northampton county by the Scotch-Irish. Rev. David Brainerd, a licentiate of the Congregationalist church, but subsequently ordained by the Presbytery of Newark, commenced his labors in 1743. Mr. Brainerd was a native of Connecticut, and commenced his missionary works among the Indians between Stockbridge, Massachusetts, and Albany, New York, under the direction of "The American Correspondents of the Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge." The society, thinking there was a wider opportunity for usefulness in Pennsylvania, directed their missionary to go to the Indians on the Delaware. Brainerd arriving at the scene of his labors, built a cabin in what is now Lower Mount Bethel township, near the mouth of Martin's creek. Taking this point for the base of his operations, he itinerated through the surrounding country, preaching sometimes to the scattered white settlers, but most fre- quently to the Indians. He concluded his labors at the Forks of the Dela- ware, February 24, 1746, and after his departure for fifty years there were only the Reformed and Lutheran congregations with religious services in German in Easton and its immediate vicinity. At irregular periods reli- gious services in English were, however, held in the hall of the Easton Union Academy, and on August 12, 1798, the Easton Religious Society was formed. A constitution was adopted, the fees of membership estab- lished, and Andrew Mein, a teacher of the academy, was chosen president. This organization led an uncertain life and finally ceased to have any recognized existence.
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